A Mexican national who was deported 10 times was charged with 11 felony counts on Wednesday.
Investigators said on Tuesday morning that DNA evidence connected Carlos Ceron Salazar, 30, to the attempted sexual assault of a jogger at Miramar Lake in December 2006 and a previous attack in the 12700 block of Community Road in Poway in September 2004.
On Wednesday, Salazar pleaded not guilty to nearly a dozen charges, including assault with intent to commit rape, attempted rape, rape by a foreign object, attempted raped with a foreign object, sexual battery and
false imprisonment. He faces up to 38 years in prison if convicted of all charges, prosecutors said Wednesday.
According to the San Diego Police Department, a woman was grabbed during the attack two years ago and was forced to the ground at the Miramar Lake Recreation area. She fought with her attacker, though, and bit him so hard two teeth were pulled out of her mouth. Investigators recovered DNA from her teeth after the attack.
Witnesses were able to help police identify Salazar as the assailant, but only after he was deported, police said. Local police contacted the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency and requested to be alerted if
Salazar attempted to re-enter the U.S.
Salazar was arrested last Monday in Escondido, accused of being drunken in public and turned over to ICE agents, who notified San Diego police.
Detectives believe Salazar may have been involved in other attacks in the Lake Poway area and are urging anybody with information about any incidents to call the Poway Sheriff’s Station at 858-513-2824 or 619-531-2210.
Prosecutors said on Wednesday that another suspect was originally arrested and charged with the 2004 attack but was cleared by DNA evidence.
Salazar is being held on $500,000 bail. He is due back in court on Jan. 12.
